Words of Affirmation

How often do your hear sincere words of affirmation?
How often do you give out words of affirmation?

Two very important questions. Unfortunately when I asked myself those questions, the answers were "not enough". For some it may even be little to never. It really got me thinking. Why is it that we would rather tell our co-workers or spouse's or friends that what they are doing isn't good enough as opposed to giving them praise for their hard work? I realized that it isn't a matter of choosing but more a matter of habit.

Our minds have been trained to look at the bad as opposed to the good. Look at newspapers, tv, and the internet. We get to caught up in expecting more, or wanting more that we forget to recognize all of the little things people do so well.

So I challenge you today, to tell your spouse how much you appreciate their efforts around the house, or your employee that you really appreciate their attention to detail in their work, or your friend that you are thankful for the dedication they put into your relationship. You may be surprised by the reaction you get. How your wife or husband may start doing even more for you, or your employee get's their next task finished well before their deadline.

The power of affirmation is crucial when wanting the most out of a person. If you only focus on the bad, you will just get more bad, so focus on the good and you shall receive more quality from your relationships.